Acclaimed director Tim Burton brings his
vividly imaginative style to the beloved Roald Dahl classic Charlie and the
Chocolate Factory, about eccentric chocolatier Willy Wonka (Depp) and Charlie, a
good-hearted boy from a poor family who lives in the shadow of Wonka's
extraordinary factory. Long isolated from his own family, Wonka launches a
worldwide contest to select an heir to his candy empire. Five lucky children,
including Charlie, draw golden tickets from Wonka chocolate bars and win a
guided tour of the legendary candy-making facility that no outsider has seen in
15 years. Dazzled by one amazing sight after another, Charlie is drawn into
Wonka's fantastic world in this astonishing and enduring story.

***

Tim Burton is back. The Burtonesque grotesque imagination is
reborn. After some good, but not great years, we finally get everything what
Tim Burton is all about, and as such, "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" is
the most pure Burton film since the power-trio "Edward Scissorhands", "Batman
Returns" and "Ed Wood".

Adapted from the novel by Roald Dahl, "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" is
very close to the book. Burton adds some background on Willy Wonka, which
parallels Willy with Edward, and for that matter also The Penguin, both people
who along the way got lost from their parents, and who has a unique ability to
create.

What Burton brings to the story is his amazing imagination. Everything is over
the top, everything is surreal, everything is incredible out-of-this-world,
that it is impossible not to give in and be charmed away. Adding to this,
Burton sneaks in references and in-jokes from favorite movies; my favorite is
the reference to "2001".

• Under the Wrapper (6:58)
• Charlie and the Chocolate Factory: Sweet Sounds (7:14)
• Becoming Oompa-Loompa: How They Turned One Man into Hundreds of
Oompa-Loompas (7:16)
• Attack of the Squirrels: A Look at the Trained Nut-Sorting
Squirrels (9:48)
• Fantastic Mr. Dahl: A Look into the Life of Ronald Dahl (17:40)

This is another example of a
Warner 'international' Blu-ray
available at different times in different geographic locations but the
hi-def disc is region free (as confirmed by my Momitsu)
playable on all Blu-ray
machines worldwide. The Asian release has been available for a while and
the UK + German editions recently
surfaced. Experience tells us there won't be any difference in the video
transfers and all subtitle and DUB options, plus extras, will probably
remain consistent. Menus may, however, differ although the Asian Blu-ray
does have English menus.

We've compared the single-disc package DVD
to the Blu-ray,
but there is a simultaneously-released 2-disc DVD set (as
reviewed by Henrik
HERE) although the SD MPEG-2 transfer
appears to be the same on both DVDs. The most striking improvement is in
the colors - which is actually a big part of the presentation once we
enter the Wonka factory. Reds especially seem to be more pronounced in
their brilliance. To a less noticeable degree detail also improves on
the Blu-ray
as does depth. The entire image tightens up and the infrequent noise
apparent on the SD-DVD has vanished on the 24 Gig-filled feature of this
dual-layered disc that takes up almost 45 for the entire package. The
high-definition image is somewhat brighter and skin-tones get warmer but
lose their yellow tinge. The static caps below probably don't do justice
to the Blu-ray
which, on my system, showed significant superiority in motion.

Audio also improves with a TrueHD 5.1 at
1600 kpbs. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is filled with
life and the music through the audio effects and Oompa Loompa
musical numbers whihc are a huge part of the presentation.
To me this was probably more effecting than the video advancement
although the track doesn't export the most depth I have ever heard
but is certainly worthy of demo'ing for friends with kids. Elfman's
score sounds much more defined and crisp. There are many optional
subtitle choices (the DVD has English, French or Spanish) and as we
stated the Blu-ray
is region FREE.

The Blu-ray
extras seem to duplicate the HD from October 2006 (which
carried over all the featurettes etc, from the double-disc DVD -
reviewed by Henrik
HERE). There are eight of them totaling well over an hour
and cover (listed above), in an amusing way, may of the film's
production details - of note was the 17-minute piece on the author
Ronald Dahl. Kids can enjoy these featurettes too. There is some new
content - exclusive to the hi-def edition. Described in the Blu-ray
menus as a Burton commentary (with optional subtitles) it is really
an In-Movie 'picture-in-picture Experience with an Oompa
Loompa tour guide. It includes pop-up screens with trivia style
factoids, a few short cast and crew interviews (including Burton),
some behind-the-scenes footage plus artwork and storyboards. Very
cool. You may access a Music –Only Track Showcasing Danny Elfman’s
Score and Songs, 2 short Previsualizations: Auqustus Gloop Dance
(2:06) and Mike Teavee Dance (1:33), and a European Club
Reel (2;54 listed under 'Fun and Games') There is also a Theatrical
Trailer in HD.

I was indifferent when I saw this film on DVD but it
really came to life on Blu-ray which is the best way to see, and especially hear, it.
Burton's film constantly amuses in this hi-tech retelling of the
story.